Port Vale responded to one of their worst performances of the season with arguably their best as they hammered Yeovil 3-0 at Huish Park tonight.

This was just three days after a dismal 1-0 home defeat to Swindon, but this evening's scoreline flattered the home side who couldn't have complained had they conceded six.

Vale went into the game as the third lowest scorers in the division, which seemed remarkable as they played like promotion contenders throughout the 90 minutes.

They kicked off a place above Yeovil in 17th, which tells you they don't play like this every week, but this superb performance was rich reward for their 113 travelling fans, many of whom will have been rubbing their eyes in some disbelief.

Neil Aspin made three changes in personnel and a tweak in formation, but saw his side produce a performance that was a world away from their efforts against Swindon.

Ben Whitfield, Luke Joyce and the injured Mitch Clark dropped out as Theo Vassell, Manny Oyeleke and Antony Kay were recalled in a 4-1-4-1 line up with Kay as the holding midfielder and Cristian Montano and Luke Hannant playing wide right and left respectively.

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The effect was immediate as the Valiants took the game to their hosts who looked jittery as Hannant charged down a clearance before the move finally ended when keeper Stuart Nelson inexplicably dropped a ball into the area, but grabbed it at the second attempt.

But Vale went closer on eight minutes when Tom Pope chipped the keeper but just cleared the bar from the left side of the area. He got the ball from an excellent pass from Montano who was having a fine game on the right where he had licence to cut inside and on to his favoured left foot.

There was no question the Vale deserved their lead when it arrived. Scott Brown’s long clearance was flicked on by Pope to Oyeleke. He found Hannant who slipped in Oyeleke on the left of the area and the midfielder fired the ball low across goal where Montano met the ball with a first-time strike across the keeper from around seven yards.

Goal celebrations for Cristian Montano of Port Vale during the Sky Bet League 2 match between Yeovil Town and Port Vale at Huish Park, Yeovil, Somerset on November 27. - PHOTO: Cameron Geran/PPAUK

Vale came within inches of a second with a brilliant 30-yard volley from Kay that swerved just past the post with Nelson beaten at full stretch.

But Yeovil's defence barely had time to catch their breath when Pope surged through in the right of the area but fired just over.

Vale were all over Yeovil and went close again as Hannant’s outswinging corner found Legge who would have expected to do better than plant his free header over from 12 yards.

Kay was booked for a late challenge in a minor blemish on Vale's excellent start. But their dominance was typified by Montano who won the ball ten yards from his own corner flag, drove forward and won a free kick deep into the Yeovil half.

Vale's main concern will have been the absence of a second goal to reflect their dominance, but that was rectified on 32 minutes after they won a corner on the right.

Tom Conlon’s inswinging delivery was met perfectly by Connell Rawlinson who powered a header across the keeper and inside the far post.

Yeovil's first effort of note didn't arrive until the 37th minute as Wesley McDonald’s 25-yard drive was beaten away for a corner by Brown.

That sparked a spell of Yeovil pressure as Hannant made a vital block 12 yards out just as Rhys Browne was about to shoot. McDonald then curled a 20-yard effort just over, but Vale were well worth their two-goal lead at the break.

Goal celebrations for Connell Rawlinson of Port Vale during the Sky Bet League 2 match between Yeovil Town and Port Vale at Huish Park, Yeovil, Somerset on November 27. - PHOTO: Cameron Geran/PPAUK

In fact, any suggestion or a Yeovil comeback was quashed as Vale got the third within three minutes of the second half. Oyeleke freed Hannant down the left and he broke forward before squaring the ball to Montano who met it with a first-time strike low and left-footed past the keeper from 18 yards.

Montano was booked for a late challenge as he tried to win a 50/50 ball, but that could hardly detract from the winger's terrific evening.

In fact he almost improvised a fourth as he collected Pope's header on the edge of the area before stabbing the ball right footed just over.

Pope’s header, from Hannant’s corner was saved on the line. But the captain went closer moments later as Hannant’s cross from the right found him at the back post but he headed just wide.

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The Yeovil supporters were deeply unimpressed as they made clear with chants of 'You Don't Know What You're Doing' when manager Darren Way took off Sessi D'Almedia for Jordan Green on 64 minutes.

Their mood wouldn't have improved had Legge found the net instead of heading just wide from Hannant's free kick as the Valiants continued to threaten more goals.

Neil Aspin made his first change as Montano, who was tiring a little, was taken off for Louis Dodds on 71 minutes.

Goal celebrations for Connell Rawlinson of Port Vale during the Sky Bet League 2 match between Yeovil Town and Port Vale at Huish Park, Yeovil, Somerset on November 27. - PHOTO: Cameron Geran/PPAUK

But there was no easing up from Vale who went close when Hannant's shot from the edge of the area was deflected just wide. The resulting corner dropped to Legge 12 yards out but his shot was blocked on the line.

Dodds was inches away from scoring the fourth when he met Hannant's pass with a 16-yard strike just wide of the far post.

Joyce replaced Oyeleke on 76 minutes as Vale saw out the game. Tom Pope was booked on 81 minutes but nobody cared much about that as Conlon went close to a fourth on a terrific night for the Valiants.